B.C. MARINE TRAILS NETWORK ASSOCIATION

Purposes of the BC Marine Trails The purposes of the Association are: a) to identify map and preserve a network of marine access points and public recreational sites along the British Columbia coastline for use by the general public; b) to protect the environment for the benefit of the public by conducting environmental stewardship projects designed to preserve and protect flora and fauna and restore waterways; and c) to undertake activities ancillary and incidental to the attainment of the above-mentioned charitable purposes. Environmental and Stewardship Program - Plastics and debris cleanup - Invasive species removal - Site Condition Reporting - Development and implementation Marine Trail Code of Conduct - Volunteer coordination of volunteers at cleanups Mapping a network of sites including safety of paddler The Public Safety Program is a core program run by the BC Marine Trails (BCMT) to ensure safety and continuity of the sustained recreational use of the British Columbia coastline for marine transit designed primarily for paddlecraft through a volunteer-based initiative. Our program includes several key components: Developing safety standards for trails (the safety mandate) Coastal safety audits Coastal assessments Site assessments Creating and maintaining a comprehensive map database and map Creating and maintaining a public website Public safety outreach First Nations Engagement BCMT began The First Nations Engagement Program (FNEP) in 2019 in recognition of new political imperatives involved in recreational planning on the British Columbia coast. These involve aboriginal rights and title reconciliation and the tenet of prior and informed consent. FNEP specifically addresses these three principles. While these are infrequently legally required in the capacity in which BCMT approaches land use we believe strongly in the moral imperative to form meaningful and respectful relationships with the First Nations in whose territories lands and waters our members visit. - establishing First Nations protocols for visitors - Recognition of cultural historical and archeological sites - Joint site evaluations - Facilitating Archaeological Impact Assessments - Public Education We maintain a record of volunteer hours. In 2024 for example 4391 hours of volunteer activity were logged and tracked.